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Nuggets trade for All-Star Iguodala

Howard to Lakers at center of four-team deal

By Benjamin Hochman The Denver Post

Posted:
08/09/2012 11:13:45 PM MDT

It will forever be called the Dwight Howard trade -- Orlando's long, national Dwightmare is over -- but in Denver, it will be called the Andre Iguodala trade, the day the Nuggets put the "D" back in Denver.

One of the worst defensive teams a season ago, Denver now has one of the league's best perimeter defenders in Iguodala, who comes to the Nuggets via a complicated four-team trade, a source confirmed late Thursday night.

Denver sent starting shooting guard Arron Afflalo and reserve forward Al Harrington to the Orlando Magic, while acquiring the current Olympian Iguodala. To acquire the disgruntled superstar Howard, the Los Angeles Lakers gave up All-Star center Andrew Bynum, who is heading to Iguodala's old team in Philadelphia.

Last season, the 6-foot-6 Iguodala averaged 12.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He is 28 and will likely start at shooting guard, along with starters Ty Lawson at point guard, Danilo Gallinari at small forward and Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee in the low post.

For the Nuggets, this trade wasn't about scoring. This deep Denver team led the league in scoring last season.

Yes, on paper, the Nuggets will lose some scoring -- Afflalo averaged 15.2 points last season, while Harrington averaged 14.2. But with so many other options to put the ball in the basket, the Nuggets targeted Iggy to enhance the team's perimeter rebounding and passing, in addition to his lockdown defense.

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Coach George Karl often says the Nuggets' offense functions best when guards rebound and push the ball in transition. Iguodala averaged about double the rebounds that Afflalo did last season.

The deal will be questioned by some fans for two reasons. For one, Denver essentially helped conference rival Los Angeles get better by getting involved in the trade.

But the Nuggets, it seems, saw this solely as an opportunity to better themselves -- an opportunity they might not otherwise have had.

And, frankly, with the Dwightmare plaguing Orlando, it's possible that he would end up a Laker regardless, so Denver at least took advantage of the deal to improve its lineup.

Secondly, some fans might wonder if Afflalo still has room for improvement. Last season after the All-Star break, he averaged 17.9 points. Could he emerge as formidable scoring guard in this league?

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